Portsmouth drag act 'let down' after receiving noise complaint over lockdown street show

Business owner Andrew Pearce, well known for his drag act as Miss G, has said he is ‘unlikely’ to put on shows from the front of his Southsea house again after the warning from Portsmouth City Council.

The 53-year-old, who has performed as Miss G for more than 20 years, put on some of his best costumes for the 90-minute show in Chetwynd Road on Friday night, singing songs such as Big Spender and YMCA.

Andrew, owner of Creatiques bridal store in Albert Road, said: ‘Everyone in the street loved the performance and were clapping and singing along and on Facebook the livestream was watched by thousands of people with hundreds of positive comments.

'I put on the show to boost morale and from the feedback I had it definitely worked.’

But he was upset to receive a letter yesterday morning from the council.

He said: ‘It just makes me so sad. We were all social distancing. A police officer came along but said it was fine and left.

‘I've raised so much money in the past for charities in Portsmouth and for QA Hospital with fundraising events and I feel so let down by the council.

‘I don't want to put on another show because of this.'

Jane Allison, 56, who lives opposite Andrew agreed. She said: ‘We loved it. We were looking forward to it all day and when the performance started we stood outside our house and like our neighbours were laughing, singing and dancing along.

‘I think it meant a lot to people in our street who had been stuck inside for so long.

‘I can't believe that it could've been anyone in our road who made the complaint because everyone enjoyed it so much.'

SEE ALSO: Southsea businessman raises thousands for charity as drag act Miss G

But Richard Lee, regulatory services manager at Portsmouth City Council, said the letter was standard practice.

‘In these standard advisory letters we ask people to take into account the noise they make as it may, often unintentionally, impact negatively on their neighbours,' he said.

‘In line with our usual practice, we are not taking any further action at this time.

‘It is important that during these challenging times we are all respectful of our neighbours and mindful of others.’

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